Jesse Slade and Associates has been helping injured federal employees with their OWCP claims since 2007. If you need help with your OWCP claim, contact Jesse at owcpslayer@gmail.com
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Wednesday, May 25, 2016

As if there wasn’t enough
to contend with, a new issue for claimants has come to my attention and it's getting more widespread. It is important that this information gets to ANY claimant who finds themselves with a nurse on their claim.

Agencies are assigning nurses to OWCP claims and in some cases, these
nurses are misrepresenting to a claimant and/or their providers that they were
assigned by OWCP or that they are contracted by OWCP.

In some cases, the agency
nurses are misrepresenting that even though employed by the agency, they have
the right to access your medical records and get involved with your providers because you were injured at work.

THIS IS NOT TRUE

In some cases, the agency
and/or its nurses are preventing an injured worker from seeing a qualified
physician by recommending a physician or telling the injured worker they have
to see a particular physician. You do NOT have to have an agency-recommended physician
as your treating physician.

In some cases, the agency and/or their nurses are directing claimants away from certain physicians, saying the physician is under investigation when they are not. This is currently most widespread in Arizona.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, DO NOT believe your agency without proof what they’re saying is true. It’s hard enough to find a physician that will take an OWCP patient, now the agencies are trying to eliminate physicians, especially the good ones, that do accept OWCP claimants by telling lies about the physicians to scare claimants away.

For injured Border Patrol employees, there is at least one agency nurse in Arizona that is currently not licensed in the state of Arizona and is inappropriately inserting herself into claims as if she has a legitimate right.

In some cases, the agency
and/or their nurses are inappropriately obtaining your medical records from your medical providers. When
you’re injured, your agency does not receive or manage your medical records…OWCP does.

In some cases, the agency
and/or their nurses are contacting your providers in person or by telephone. The
agency and/or their nurse CANNOT contact your medical providers in person or by
telephone.

However, your agency can
contact your providers in writing. If any agency is contacting a provider, it
MUST be in writing and a copy of the letter must be provided to both you and
OWCP at the same time it’s sent to your provider. The agency can ask your provider about work limitations and possible job assignments.

If the agency writes your provider and the provider is going to respond, they should respond to OWCP. The doctor has no obligation to respond to the agency. Your agency is not involved in the decisions of your claim. Your agency doesn't review or weigh medical evidence. Your agency does not manage any part of your claim. Your obligation is to OWCP not your agency.Your obligation to your agency is to notify them when you have been released to work and to provide any physical restrictions through a completed CA-17.

If the agency needs information, they can contact OWCP and if they are legally entitled to the information, OWCP will give it to them.

If your agency contacts you for medical reports, you should
send the reports to OWCP and NOT the agency, but you can and should provide the agency a
current CA-17.The agencies and/or their nurses are inserting themselves into claims and asking providers for information such as billing codes. Legitimate OWCP Field Nurses don’t need to ask for billing codes. Since all your bills go through OWCP, they can easily find out what’s being billed. They don’t need ask your providers for billing codes.

Because of these new agency tactics, ANY nurse assigned to your claim should be properly identified as an OWCP Field Nurse.

When OWCP assigns a Field Nurse to your claim, you will be notified in writing. If you did not receive a letter from OWCP assigning a Field Nurse to your claim, there is a chance the nurse contacting you is not assigned by OWCP but is an agency nurse.

ALL claimants should ask their Field Nurse for the letter OWCP sent them and identification to confirm they are in fact the OWCP Field Nurse assigned and not an imposter sent by the agency to wrongfully obtain your medical information and documents.

Once you know the nurse's name, you should also confirm the nurse has a current and valid license in your state.

If an agency nurse inserts
themselves into your claim, I suggest you contact OWCP in writing and let them know the agency is acting outside its bounds of the Act. A copy should also be sent to your agency and the agency should be told to remove their nurse from your claim immediately. That the nurse is not to contact you or any of your providers again. And most important, your
providers need to be notified in writing that the agency nurse has no legal right to any information involving your claim.

If an agency nurse is or
has been assigned to your case and improperly obtained medical information, you can also file a complaint with your state’s
nursing board for improperly inserting themselves into your claim and/or directing the course
of medical treatment, possible Privacy Act and/or HIPAA violations and violating
20 CFR §10.506. You can also talk to your
union about filing a grievance.

You do NOT have to interact in any way with an agency nurse
or an OWCP Field Nurse for that matter.

It is not in your best interest to allow your agency access to your medical records or your providers. They are not
entitled to the information and if the agency requires information regarding
your claim, they should be told to contact OWCP.

A CA-17 indicating your physical restrictions is
all the medical documentation your agency should require. If they need anything
else, the agency should be told to contact OWCP.

Your agency has NO authority to insert themselves into your
claim. If the agency requires information about your claim, they should be told
to contact OWCP. If the agency is legally entitled to the information, OWCP will
provide it to the agency.

If I haven't said it enough: The agency should contact OWCP if they need information about your claim.

Also something to remember, Field Nurses are Voluntary. Even
if you’re assigned a Field Nurse by OWCP, you do not have to allow them access
to you, your home, your providers or your medical records.

Claimants unfortunately have to protect themselves and the
best way to do that is by knowing your rights. You are NOT required to cooperate
with an agency nurse in any way, shape or form and if one has inserted
themselves into your claim, you should immediately put a stop to it.

Policy and Law:

From the FECA Field Nurse Handbook Part Three:

6.EA (employing
agency) Nurses: Several EAs have
developed their own nurse intervention programs. Whereas the concept of early
intervention is in keeping with current case management techniques, the
activities of these EA nurse programs should be coordinated with the OWCP adjudicatory
and case management activities.

(2)An EA nurse intervention program is limitedin its scope and
authority, and has no jurisdiction over
issues under the purview of OWCP;

(3)OWCP FN (Field
Nurse) intervention activities/actions supersede the EA actionsand the EA nurse should suspend any
independent actions during the course of OWCP nurse intervention; and

(4)OWCP
officially recognizes only one EA point of contactresponsible for coordinating
compensation and RTW (Return to Work) efforts (e.g. the EA ICS (injury
compensation specialist) or EA duty station supervisor).

b.Communicating with EA
Nurses. As noted above in 6a(4), the FN should only be communicating directly
with the identified EA point of contact. The
EA nurse is not recognized as a point of contact for case-related
communications, however, the EA nurse can act as an EA resource during RTW
conferences. The EA nurse may assist the EA and FN with issues related
specifically to the RTW effort and identification of light duty work (as well
as identification of any barriers the IW may encounter upon RTW). The FN may
recommend to the EA point of contact that the EA nurse be made available to participate
in RTW discussions and work site evaluations; however, such RTW discussions and
work site evaluations should not be delayed in order to accommodate the EA
nurse's schedule.

The agency may monitor the employee's medical
care through requests to the employee, or his or her physician, within certain
guidelines contained in the FECA's regulations, specifically 20 CFR §10.506. This section says:

"The
employer may monitor the employee's medical progress and duty status by
obtaining periodic medical reports. Form CA-17 is usually adequate for this
purpose. To aid in returning an injured employee to suitable employment, the employer
may also contact the employee's physician in writing concerning the work
limitations imposed by the effects of the injury and possible job assignments.
(However, the employer shall not contact the physician by telephone or through
personal visit.) When such contact is made, the employer shall send a copy of
any such correspondence to OWCP and the employee, as well as a copy of the
physician's response when received. The employer may also contact the employee
at reasonable intervals to request periodic medical reports addressing his or
her ability to return to work."

Monday, May 23, 2016

See original article at: http://theowcpclassroom.blogspot.com/2015/09/lenin-lenny-perez.html

03/31/2016 Lenin "Lenny" Perez whose company claimed they were advocates for injured federal employees pleaded guilty to conspiracyand receiving illegal remuneration (kickbacks), charges which each carry up to five years in federal prison. The amount of the kickbacks exceeded $1,000,000.00 with approximately $250,000.00 paid to his daughter.Mr. Perez' daughter, Liane Perez-Rodriguez pleaded guilty to making a false statement and faces up to five years in federal prison. By pleading guilty, Ms. Perez-Rodriguez admitted lying to investigators.Ms. Perez-Rodriguez had a "no-show" job at AmeriMed Diagnostic Services in Florida which according to documents, was created to funnel AmeriMed clinic money to her father, Mr. Perez. Ironically, Ms. Perez-Rodriguez's real job was as a legal secretary in the Public Defender's office. Lois Luis who helped run AmeriMed also pleaded guilty to conspiracy and receiving illegal remuneration (kickbacks) and also faces up to five years in federal prison for each charge. Mary K. Manso, chief executive officer at AmeriMed pleaded guilty to obstructing a health care investigation and also faces up to five years in federal prison. According to her plea agreement, Ms. Manso lied to federal investigators about kickbacks at AmeriMed and helped AmeriMed launder $2,500,000.00 obtained through fraudulent billing practices.

Department of Justice news release:https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/federal-workers-compensation-kickback-conspirators-plead-guilty-010/18/2016: Mr. Perez died at the Pinellas County jail while awaiting sentencing. owcpslayer@gmail.com

At some point during your OWCP claims process, you're going to need a narrative medical report from your physician. Your claim won't...

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Jesse Slade

Do you need help with your OWCP claim but just can’t afford the attorney or representative’s costly retainer and hourly rate?

I can drastically minimize those fees by ghostwriting whatever you require, helping you with a strategy, review your documents and/or do the research for you to help you help yourself.

From a simple letter to an appeal, no job is too large or too small and my fees are a fraction of what you’ll be charged by an attorney or representative because I charge based on what you need.

It doesn't matter if you need help with one issue or multiple issues, I can supply what you need to help you resolve your claim issues at a reasonable fee.

For those who cannot afford the high price of a full-service attorney or representative, contact OWCP advocate Jesse Slade for a more budget minded approach to help with your OWCP claim and get the help you need at an affordable price.

Jesse Slade is the alternative to high-priced attorneys and representatives.

Contact Jesse at: owcpslayer@gmail.com

Testimonials

"Jesse Slade was my ‘rescue’ to an untenable situation I encountered with OWCP. The deadlines and type of specific documentation claimants must provide from their treating physician to OWCP is non-negotiable. But this does not apply, equally, to OWCP. As a claimant, this lack of quid pro quo is frustrating on various levels (physical, psychological and financial to name a few).

I was sent to a Referee examination (based on manufactured conflict of medical opinion between treating MD and 2nd opinion MD) that lasted less than ten minutes.

But this Referee examination contained conflicting information, yet my employing agency generated a job offer from it. I had to work this new job offer or lose all rightfully earned OWCP benefits but at a cost of new consequential injuries.

With Jesse’s extensive knowledge base in all things OWCP, extensive professional experience and (ultimately) retention of Jesse as my legal representative; in the end, I was successful in having OWCP admit my arguments were justifiable and this specific job offer was unsuitable, along with accepting consequential injuries. Jesse’s total fee was $700.00. This positive outcome would not have occurred without Jesse Slade.” HDW Wisconsin

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Jesse’s knowledge in all the areas of OWCP regulations is superior to any of the expensive attorneys or other firms.

It was a blessing to see Jesse’s website and it saved me from many issues that involved OWCP.

Jesse is just a great person if you need help dealing with issues involving FECA regulations.

I will always recommend Jesse and thanks so much for being there when I needed you on the issues I have had. T.D. Oklahoma

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To USPS employees, Jesse has been a great help to me in the re-opening of my OWCP case that was close since June 2009 for wrongfully terminate benefits due to the IME! My case was re-opened in Sept 2014. Have patience and don't give up!! Jesse knows the Owcp laws!!

Thank you Jesse and I'm glad you helped me with any questions I had!! God Bless and you’re an Angel to me!! Benefits are still coming and it's been a long time waiting!! A.T.

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About 5 months ago while looking for a OWCP attorney I came across a web site called the OWCP classroom, I went over the site and felt like I found the right person, Jesse Slade to handle my OWCP situation so I emailed Jesse and asked for her phone number and I called about my situation.

Prior to Jesse I spoke to an attorney who just wanted me to get an impairment rating so he could get 15% of my award money plus legal fees which I found out from Jesse that it was against the law for an attorney to charge 15% plus fees, so right from there Jesse was the person I needed to handle my case.

Jesse knows the OWCP system and the laws and how it works. I sent my medical records and dr reports to Jesse Slade and she wrote OWCP a letter to my claims examiner asking to add more medical conditions that should of been on my original claim from the get go.

To me Jesse Slade is a life saver and a person I would recommend to anyone who needs help with their OWCP situation. C.N Brooklyn, NY

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The DOL/OWCP can be very complicated and frustrating to navigate and there are many pitfalls you never know about until it is upon you or you are in the pit. I tell people all the time I know more about the Federals Workers Comp process than I ever wanted to know.

Through this gaining of knowledge, that I never wanted, I have used Jesse Slade's expertise and knowledge on a few occasions. I have reached a point, multiple times, that I just could not find the answers.

Jesse is very knowledgeable and knows how to expertly navigate the process as well as give the DOL the exact evidence or cite previous cases that get things moving again.

I highly recommend Jesse to anyone that needs help with DOL/OWCP process. Jesse knows the process and knows the steps to take/boxes to check to cut through all of this government red tape.

I guarantee when the next issue arises, like they always do with the DOL, I will definitely seek counsel and use Jesse Slade to help my family once again. C.S.

I'm a long term OWCP Loss of Wages Compensation, Disability recipient. Over the 30 or so years I've been dealing with OWCP I've found it extremely difficult to make sense of OWCP rules and regulations. So much so that if I happen to be under attack from them, i.e. threatening to cut off my compensation for one reason or another, I stand little chance of making adequate use of OWCP manuals, etc. because my particular PTSD gets activated and all I can do is hang on and try to survive it all.

Since I happened upon the Web Site moderated by Jesse Slade I no longer have to worry about whether or not I understand what OWCP is attempting to do to me because Jesse will explain it in easy to understand language that I can digest even in a heightened state of agitation.

I find this kind of communication extremely valuable. It doesn't matter whether the information has been explained prior, Jesse will still, with deft and patience, explain it all to me again and without the least bit of judgment.

Once I'm able to understand my current situation Jesse will explain what necessary steps I need to take to defend myself from being taken advantage of by OWCP and believe me, they will try and every opportunity to take advantage of someone who may not understand their own situation and what's at stake. I highly recommend Jesse Slade as an advocate for anybody that has to deal with OWCP. K.G., California